Quantum Politics: International Alliances in Quantum Engineering

 Quantum Politics: International Alliances in Quantum Engineering

In the race for quantum supremacy, much of the focus has been on quantum technologies and capabilities, particularly around post-quantum cryptography and the development of quantum-safe Internet protocols. This research takes a complementary approach by exploring the relational quantum power of states, mapping 110 interstate quantum agreements, 180 transnational public-private partnerships, and 39 international quantum organizations to assess which states occupy hub positions. Results demonstrate that the United States, the European Union, and other advanced Western economies dominate quantum networks, while China—despite major public spending—remains relatively peripheral and partners primarily within the BRICS. Findings reveal how networked collaboration shapes the strategic landscape of quantum technologies, with implications for standard-setting, science diplomacy, and global governance.

Biography:

Dr. Samantha Bradshaw is the Director of the Center for Security, Innovation & New Technology at American University, where she also serves as an Assistant Professor at the School of International Service. She is currently a Research Fellow at the Center for International Governance Innovation and a member of the Expert Working Group on Gaming and Governance. Previously, she was a Perry World House Lightning Scholar, a Fellow at Schmidt Futures’ International Strategy Forum (North America), and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Stanford University, where she worked across the Center for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, the Digital Civil Society Lab, and the Program for Democracy and the Internet. She earned her D.Phil. in Information, Communication, and the Social Sciences from the Oxford Internet Institute in 2020.

 Bradshaw’s work has attracted substantial academic, policy, and media attention. Her research has been published in leading journals, including New Media & Society, Internet Policy Review, Internet Technology & Regulation, American Behavioral Scientist, and the Columbia Journal of International Affairs. Her findings and commentary have been featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, The Globe and Mail, The Financial Times, and Bloomberg Magazine. She has spoken on expert panels and delivered keynote lectures internationally, including engagements with organizations such as UNESCO and NATO.